Sunday, 26 April 2015

Body weight and image: The impact of negative insults

You're too fat, too wobbly, too ugly and too thin are just a selection of the insults that have the ability to instantly destroy one's confidence, and leave a negative imprint on the brain that will ignite each time one feels weak, defeated or vulnerable.
Throughout my school years I was repeatedly told that I was too fat, too ugly and too smelly. I now scrub myself red raw so that I don't 'smell', wear so much make-up that I resemble the contents of a cosmetics counter and nearly starved myself to death - all in the hope of silencing the bullies and 'fitting' in. Seventeen years later, and all it takes is one hurtful comment for me to resort back to analysing my body, weight and appearance in a negative manner.
Although we all ooze imperfections, openly targeting others weaknesses in the hope of finding comfort in cruelty, isn't the answer to banishing your own insecurities, jealousy or self-loathing. You may not be happy in your own skin, but that doesn't give you the right to destroy someone else's.
If there is one thing that I have learned from my weight loss journey, it is that we should never allow size, weight, appearance or others to define who we are. There will always be someone desperate to criticize how you look, but that desperation often stems from jealousy, envy and their own insecurities.
Whether its your weight, physical features, skin colour or imperfections that hold you back, be proud of them and who you are. Why? Because the second that you learn to love and accept yourself, is the second that those hurtful comments fail to have their intended impact. Instead, they make you stronger, happier and more determined to be, and stay, true to yourself.
I have chosen to share this video not only to emphasize the damaging impact words can have, but to prove that changing to please others won't make you happy.

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